USD Magazine, Winter/Spring 1997

MISSING PIECE TO THE PUZZLE "This is one of the missing pieces to our puzzle," says Brad Holland, head coach of men's basketball. "We have academic integrity and a beautiful campus. Now we will have a facility that represents our campus well and increases our marketability." The Jenny Craig Pavilion will be a boost to recruiting efforts for basketball and volleyball, coaches note, and will provide an injection of enthusiasm for athletics as a whole.

ON THE DRAWING BOARD The pavilion is part of a larger master plan the university has out– lined for development over the next 25 years. As part of this plan, the existing Sports Center eventually will be razed and an athletic complex will be built in phases to include two auxiliary gyms with basketball courts, a fitness center, a dance/aerobics room and an aquatics area with a new SO-meter pool, says Roger Manion, USD director of facilities management.

The master plan calls for expand– ing the seating in the football stadium from a current capacity of about 4,500 to 10,000; renovating and expanding the field house; and widening the foot– ball field so it can accommodate the maximum boundaries for soccer games

The new facility also will ease restrictions the basketball and volleyball teams now face when scheduling practices. The three athletics programs have to schedule around intramural teams, open gym hours and each other. With the additional gym,

"EVERY TIME THERE IS AN IMPORTANT

FUNCTION IN THE PAVILION , IT WILL SEND A LITTLE CHILL TO KNOW THAT WE WERE PART OF MAKING THAT HAPPEN ."

(the current field accommodates only the minimum soccer boundary requirements). Eventually, the pavil– ion and the sports center will be connected. These changes will be welcomed enthusiastically by a campus on which athletics and recreation complement a strong academic program. More than 350 varsity student-athletes compete on eight men's and eight women's Division I teams, and more than 4,000 students, fac– ulty and staff engage in intramural sports and recreational activities. Just as eager to see the pavilion take shape are the Craigs them– selves. "It would be thrilling to see an NCAA championship or another presidential debate there," Sid Craig says. "Every time there is an important function in the pavilion, it will send a little chill to know that we were part of making that happen. It's the kind of thing where you give, but it really gives back to you too." - Trisha J. Ratledge

teams will have more flexibility in changing practice times if, for example, a team member has a class conflict. Other benefits the coaches anticipate are the opportunity to attract television coverage of games, and to host West Coast Conference tournaments, USD tournaments and special games such as the annual Torero Tip-off, held the last few years at the San Diego Sports Arena. "The Jenny Craig Pavilion is vital to the quality of life on campus," says Tom Iannacone, USD's director of athletics. "It will have a positive and historical impact on many generations of students." The women's athletics programs have an additional reason to cheer the new facility. "The players are excited to have a woman's name on the building," says Kathy Marpe, head coach of women's basketball. "That is a boon to women's athletics, especially since it's a woman who promotes fitness." Construction of the pavilion will take 18 months, and could be finished in time for the spring semester of 2000. Total cost of the facility is expected to fall between $14.1 million and $15.6 million. The balance of the funds after the Craig's gift will be raised from private donations. "I hope the Jenny Craig Pavilion will inspire the school and the teams," says Sid Craig. "It's pride of ownership. When you spruce up your campus and you're a little more proud of it, you have a bet– ter attitude. Maybe you learn a little better and study a little harder because you are proud of your surroundings." "Anything that promotes good health, team effort and achievement is critical," Jenny Craig adds.

"Especially for students who will soon be entering the business world. The pavilion will encourage community participation, and I think it's impor– tant for our educational system to be integrated into the community. Having students interact with the community and with business people gives them a better sense of what to expect when they are out of school."

Sid Craig shared the news an campus with reporters, friends, family and student-athletes.

Student-athletes clamored ta meet Sid and Jenny Craig alter the announcement.

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